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Peregrine Falconby Catarina Appearance The Peregrine Falcon is an endangered bird of prey. It is found in most Canadian Provinces; in places like the Mackenzie Valley, Yukon Territory, Labrador, New Brunswick and Quebec. There were about 300 pairs of Peregrine Falcons in the Yukon in 1988 and the number of birds is increasing. The size of the falcon is about 38 to 36 centimeters long. The adult color is slate-gray with spots of black. The young falcon is darker below and browner. The speed at which the the Peregrine Falcon can dive is 200 miles per hour. The falcon is one of the fastest birds. In the 1960's there were no Peregrine Falcon's left along the Missisisippi River. Food The falcon eats large insects and small mammals such as mice, rabbits and chipmunks. It eats small birds caught while they fly. One kind of insect they eat are grasshoppers. Habitat The Peregrine Falcon reaches the northern limits of its ranges in northern Canada. It's found from Alaska and the Yukon, south to Arizona and Mexico. The falcon's home is on the cliffs in open country near waters or on big buildings in cities. Why Endangered One of the reasons the Peregrine Falcon is endangered is that farmers put a chemical called D.D.T. so the insects won't eat their crops. It harmed the falcon because it made the egg's shell thinner and when the mother sat on the eggs they broke and the baby falcon died. Another reason they died is by humans hunting the birds and collecting the eggs. The loss of wetland has also reduced their prey. What Can We Do One thing we can do so the Falcons won't become extinct is to tell the farmers to stop putting D.D.T. on their crops. We also need to protect their wetland habitat from getting destroyed. Bibliography Barrie M. Narman Book Of American Birds. Monteral. Readers Digest Association, 1990. |
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